Dolphins, Chiefs looking to change their ways

The winless Kansas City Chiefs visit Sun Life Stadium on Sunday riding a two-game losing streak, their best playmaker, running back Jamaal Charles, showed by a sprained ankle, and their quarterback, Alex Smith, ranking 35th, dead last, in the NFL with a 63.6 passer rating.

This could be just what the Dolphins need.

On the other hand, the Dolphins are without workhorse running back Knowshon Moreno (elbow), right guard Shelley Smith (knee) and middle linebacker Koa Misi (ankle). Their quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, is the 29th-rated passer with a 76.1 rating. And their special teams were a disaster in last week's ugly 29-10 loss at Buffalo.

The Chiefs (0-2) could be thinking the Dolphins (1-1) are just what they need, too.

In truth, both teams are a mess, in a matter of speaking. And both need a change.

"In this league you're going to lose some games sometimes," cornerback Brent Grimes said. "You never want to lose, but sometimes it's going to happen. We just put that in the rearview mirror, learn from it and go on."

The Dolphins looked so good in their season-opening 33-10 victory over New England, storming back from a 20-10 halftime deficit. But they looked equally as bad last week against the Bills.

"I think a lot of people think that we beating the Patriots worked against us," guard Daryn Colledge said. "I don't think that we are the team that showed at the Bills and I don't think that's the Miami Dolphins that are going to be out there the rest of the year. …

"We have a long time to define ourselves and we can't be defined by that game."

One key to stability for the Dolphins is Tannehill and the passing game.

With Moreno sidelined, it's even more important the Dolphins get their passing game going. So far it's been plagued with inaccurate throws and poorly-run routes that throw off the timing of the throws.

"We've been spending a little bit more time on that this week just emphasizing both," coach Joe Philbin said. "It's not just the accuracy of the quarterback. It's the detail and the precision of the wide receivers that make it all go in the passing game."

Dropped passes have been a problem, too. And last week, so was pass protection. Tannehill was sacked four times.

"Myself and the offense in general, we've left plays out on the field in both games," Tannehill said. "We got away with it in the first game because of some great defensive play and we rushed the ball really well. This last game, we weren't able to make up for it. We have to be able to make those plays."

Defensively, the Dolphins might see the hobbled Charles, but they'll most likely get a heavier dose of backup Knile Davis. Either way, defensive end Cam Wake isn't taking the Chiefs' running game lightly.

"Whoever has the ball, you have to put them on the ground," Wake said. "I don't care if it's Jamaal Charles, Oscar the Grouch, Big Bird, it doesn't matter."

The Dolphins hope their defensive line, the best unit on the team, is as disruptive as it was against New England, when it recorded four sacks and two fumbles.

The linebackers, with backup Jason Trusnik in the middle, newly-installed starter Jelani Jenkins on the weakside and a slowed Philip Wheeler (right thumb in cast) on the strongside, will be tested in both the run and the pass.

And the secondary, which has yet to produced an interception, will also have to play big. It's unlikely Smith and the Chiefs' passing game will continue to struggle.

But both teams need a victory, and both teams need to find their identity. And they're trying not to think about the consequences of a loss.

"We're just trying to get better," Kansas City coach Andy Reid said. "We don't worry about anything else other than that."